Coupling member for tool-handles.



'masmm. V PATENTED MAR. 31, 1908. W. ,2 SMITH.

COUPLING MEMBER FOR Tom; HANDLES.

APPLICATION FILED APR.17,1906.

W} .7 W I 8 van for WILLIAM E, 'sMirn; OF riNEvrLLE,.KENrUo1 Y.

0011 m MEMBER non moon-HANDLES,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Lei-wen 31, 1908.

Application filed April 17,1906." Serial no. 312,219.

To all whom it maycohcerni Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. SMITH, acitizen of the United ,States, residing at Pineville,'in the county ofBell and State of Kentucky, have invented new and useful Im-. provements1n Coupling Members for? Tooltwo sections connected by the coup ing mem-Handles,.of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates bers desi nod for use in repairing shovel orother too handles in the event ot the latter beingbroken, and has forits'objects to pro- 'tions of'the handle will be duce a comparativelysimple, inexpensive device of this character which-may be readilyapplied for use, and one whereby the secfirmly and securely united.

With these and other objects in view, the invention comprises the novelfeatures of construction and combination of parts more are of lessdiameter than the two hand fully hereinafter described.

In the accom anying drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view oi a shovelshowing the improved coupler applied to and for connecting the sectionsof the handle thereof. a longitudinal section centrally through thecoupling member and showing the same on a larger scale.

Referring tothe drawings,'1 designates a shovel or other tool having ahandle 2 pro vided at its outer end with a hand piece 3 which, togetherwith the other parts, is of the usual form and construction and adaptedto perform its ordinary functions.

The handle is made in two parts or se c--' tions connected by a couplingmember 4 in the term of a tubular sleeve having at its longitudinalcenter a transverse solid and rigid partition or head 5 dividing thememher into a' pair of com artments or sockets of relatively short lengtadapted to receive res ectively the ends of the handle sections anhaving transverse perforations 6 through which are entered fasteningmembers or screws 7 to secure the handle sections in the sleeve. I

In practicashould the grip piece 3 be to coupling mem- Fig. 2 isbroken,as frequently occurs in. devices of this class, the outer portion orsections of the handle may be disconnected by removing the screws 7 topermit its'replaceinent by a new section having 'an undamaged grippiece. The handle 'may be initiall made in her 4 or the member may beemployed for athandle which has been broken in use;

This invention is especiallyadapted as anemergency "coupler or mendingdevice, and as in the case of broken tool handles, such-as shovels,pitchforks, rakes, hoes, etc. they could be easily mended without theservices of a blacksmith. or other mechanic. Should a handle be broken,the broken ends thereof are whittled or trimmed down until the ends canpenetrate the sockets, and are then driven into place, (as usually thecou l'ers 9S)! and should one end be driven in place and securedtherein, it 18 not possible to drive it out when the other end is drivenin from the opposite side, owing to the soliil head between the socket.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: i

A cou ler for sectional handles of shovels and the ike com rising atubular member of relatively short ength constructed of rigid unyieldingmaterial and having a central in tegral partition therein to provide twoseparate and independent sockets so as to ermit each section of handleto be driven tierein with their inner ends engaging with the saidpartition, each of saidsockets having open ings therein and securingdevices inserted through said openings and into the inclosed portions ofthe sections of handles, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM E. SMITH. Witnesses GEO. H. REESE, R.- E. SAMUELS.

